That Good Salad

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This Good Salad lives up to its name with a mix of crisp greens, hearty toppings, and a bold garlic dressing that ties everything together. Loaded with ingredients like bacon, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, and crunchy add-ins, it brings texture and flavor in every bite. The simple homemade dressing adds a bright, garlicky finish that makes the whole dish stand out. It comes together quickly and works well as a side or a filling main, especially when served fresh and tossed just before eating.

What Makes This Salad So Good

I think people completely love this  salad because it has all things delicious in it: avocado, bacon, tomato, toasted almonds, croutons and a very garlicky dressing!

Those ingredients are some of my favorites, especially a really good dressing, so it only makes sense why its so popular. Honestly, this is one of the only salad recipes that I could eat for dinner and dessert too. I know that sounds insane, but that’s how darn good it is.

If you’re into hearty salads like this, you might also like a classic like Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, or try switching things up with this Southwestern Salad Dressing for a different flavor.

Ingredient Notes

• Lettuce – Crisp, fresh lettuce gives the salad a light, refreshing base
• Tomatoes – Ripe tomatoes add juicy sweetness and a pop of color
• Avocados – Creamy avocado brings richness and a smooth texture that balances the other ingredients
• Bacon – Crispy bacon adds savory flavor and a satisfying crunch
• Croutons – Provide a toasty texture that complements the fresh veggies
• Almonds – Toasted almonds add a nutty crunch that pairs perfectly with the other toppings
• Parmesan Cheese – Gives a salty, savory bite that enhances the overall flavor
• Lemon – Fresh lemon juice brightens flavors and adds a subtle tang that lifts the whole salad
• Garlic – Garlic adds a bold, aromatic flavor that elevates the dressing
• Salt & Pepper – Just the right seasoning brings all the flavors together
• Olive Oil – Emulsifies the dressing and adds richness without overpowering the other flavors

How to Make That Good Salad

This salad comes together quickly with a mix of fresh ingredients and a simple homemade dressing. With just a few easy steps, everything is tossed together for a crisp, flavorful dish that’s best served right away.

Step 1: Prep the Salad

Add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl and gently toss them together so everything is ready for the dressing.

Step 2: Make the Dressing

In a blender, combine the lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper and blend until the mixture is light and frothy. With the blender running, slowly stream in the olive oil until the dressing is well emulsified and smooth.

Step 3: Dress & Serve

Drizzle the amount of dressing you like over the salad and toss to coat evenly. Serve right away for the best texture and freshness.

Tools You’ll Need

You don’t need anything fancy to make this recipe, but having the right tools makes it easier and more consistent. Here’s what I recommend:

Large Mixing Bowl
I like using a large mixing bowl so everything fits without making a mess when you toss it. It gives you enough space to mix evenly without crushing the ingredients.
👉 Get the one I use here

Colander
This is helpful for rinsing lettuce and other veggies and letting excess water drain off. It keeps your salad from turning watery, which makes a big difference in the final texture.
👉 Grab it here

Blender
A blender helps you get a smooth, well-mixed dressing in seconds instead of trying to whisk everything by hand. It blends everything evenly so the flavor is consistent throughout.
👉 See it here

Budget vs Upgrade

Budget Pick: If you want to keep it simple, a whisk works well for mixing the dressing by hand. It takes a little more effort, but it still blends everything evenly without needing extra equipment.

Worth the Upgrade: If you make homemade dressings often, a higher-powered blender mixes everything smoother and handles thicker ingredients without stopping.

Tips for Success

• Dry the lettuce well – Excess water can dilute the dressing and make the salad soggy.
• Crisp the bacon properly – Cook until golden and firm so it holds its texture in the salad.
• Add avocado just before serving – This keeps it from browning and getting too soft.
• Stream in the olive oil slowly – This helps the dressing emulsify into a smooth, cohesive mixture.
• Taste the dressing first – Adjust lemon, salt, or pepper as needed before tossing.

FAQ

This good salad checks every box. Fresh, satisfying, packed with flavor, and worth making again and again. You’ll toss it together once, then keep coming back to it. Printable recipe card is below! Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

That Good Salad

Katie Cooksey

This “That Good Salad” lives up to its name with a mix of crisp greens, hearty toppings, and a bold garlic dressing that ties everything together.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 499 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 1 lb bacon cooked and crumbled
• 12 oz pre-washed lettuce I used a mix of baby kale and romaine
• 5 roma tomatoes diced
• 2/3 cup slivered almonds toasted
• 2 ripe avocados diced
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 cups croutons

dressing:

• 2 lemons juiced
• 3 large cloves garlic roughly chopped
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 cup olive oil

Instructions

 

• Place all ingredients for salad into large bowl.
• For dressing, blend lemon juice, garlic and salt and pepper in a blender until frothy. With blender on, slowly add in olive oil to emulsify.
• Pour desired amount of dressing over salad and toss together. Serve immediately!
• *If you want to make this in advance, do not add avocados, croutons or dressing until ready to serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 499kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 17gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 629mgPotassium: 638mgFiber: 7gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 739IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 198mgIron: 2mg

Keyword that good salad

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Variations

• Add grilled chicken to make the salad a more filling main dish.
• Swap almonds for walnuts, pecans, or sunflower seeds for a different crunch.
• Use feta, blue cheese, or shredded mozzarella instead of Parmesan for a new flavor twist.
• Skip the bacon and add chickpeas or roasted veggies for a vegetarian-friendly version.
• Try a different dressing like balsamic vinaigrette or creamy ranch for a simple change.
• Add extra veggies such as cucumbers, red onions, or bell peppers for more color and crunch.

More Recipes to Try

• Caprese Salad
• Pear Salad
• Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Strawberry Salad

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.